Placement method of an electronic module on a substrate

ABSTRACT

The aim the disclosed process is to ensure maximum precision both at the level of the manufacturing of an electronic assembly from a chip with small dimensions as well as the level of the placement of such an assembly on an insulating substrate. This aim is achieved by a placement process on a substrate, of at least one electronic assembly comprising a chip having at least one electric contact on one of its faces, said contact being intended to be electrically connected to a conductive track segment. The electronic assembly is built on a holding device which seizes and holds at least one conductive track segment previously formed and a chip. A placement device places this electronic assembly thus built at a predetermined position relative to the substrate and embeds or inserts said electronic assembly into the substrate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/342,911, filed Jan. 30, 2006, now, U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,932 issued Aug. 31, 2010, entitled “Placement method of an electronic module on a substrate and device produced by said method”, claiming priority from EP05100694.8 filed Feb. 1, 2005 and EP05109094.2 filed Sep. 30, 2005, all of the above mentioned applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns the field of assembly of transponders, chip cards, integrated circuits or other digital data support and more particularly the placement, mounting and connection of electronic assemblies on an insulating support, more commonly known as a substrate.

PRIOR ART

An electronic assembly means here a component in the form of a semi-conductive chip, provided on one of its faces with electric contact areas on which segments of conductive tracks are arranged for extending said contacts. These segments of track are connections linking the chip to external elements located on the substrate. For example, in a transponder, the track segments of the assembly are used for connecting it to the ends of an antenna arranged on the perimeter of the substrate.

There are several processes of placement and connection of a chip or an electronic assembly on a substrate including conductive tracks, namely.

The document EP0694871 describes a placement process of a chip carried out by means of a hot-pressing tool. The tool seizes the chip, with the face including the contacts directed upward, and then hot presses it into the substrate material. The face including the contacts is level with the surface of the substrate. The connections are produced using silk-screen printing or by track tracing by means of conductive ink that connects the contacts of the chip to an antenna, for example. According to an embodiment, a track segment is placed on the substrate and the chip is hot pressed with the face carrying the contacts directed towards the substrate in order to make a connection by pressing a contact of said chip on the track segment.

In the document WO98/26372, the chip includes contacts in relief and it is placed with the face carrying the contacts directed towards the substrate. The contacts of the chip are applied against conductive terminals of an antenna printed on the substrate. An intermediate plastic sheet is superimposed on the substrate equipped in this way and covers the chip. A second sheet covers the substrate before the hot lamination of this assembly of sheets. This process called the “flip chip” technique allows the placement and the connection of the chip to be carried out in one single operation and guarantees the minimal thickness of the assembly.

The document WO98/44452 describes a manufacturing process of a chip card comprising at least one microcircuit in the substrate of the card. The microcircuit is positioned in such a way that the output studs are directed upwards. Applying conductive ink with a syringe carries out the connection of the studs with the contacts of an antenna placed on the surface of the substrate. The microcircuit is placed at the bottom of a cavity that has a greater depth than the thickness of the microcircuit in order to leave a space that allows said microcircuit to be covered with resin after the connections have been carried out. The connections follow the profile of the microcircuit and the one of the cavity before reaching the contacts or tracks printed on the surface of the substrate.

In the process described in the document EP1410322, a complete module comprising a chip provided with contact areas is placed from a support strip on a substrate, including the printed conductive tracks, also arranged on a strip. A module among those fixed on the strip is placed face to a part of strip equipped with an assembly of conductive tracks that form, for example, an antenna. Then, it is separated from the strip in order to be adhered onto the substrate in the proximity of the terminals of the antenna. The connection of the contact areas of the module to the antenna is carried out by pressure and crimping with a suitable device during the gluing of the module.

The document FR2780534 describes a manufacturing process of an object including a body comprising a semi-conductive chip provided with contact areas on one of its faces and metallizations forming an antenna. The process consists in inserting the chip by hot pressing into a small board made of thermoplastic material. The face of the chip provided with contact areas is placed in such a way that it is level with one of the face of the board. The metallizations forming the antenna as well as the connections of the contact areas of the chip are made on the same face of the board by silk-screen printing of conductive ink.

This process becomes inapplicable when the dimensions of the semi-conductive chip are very small, of approximately a few tenths of a millimeter. In fact, silk-screening or the application of conductive material by another process (tracing, projection) does not allow the necessary precision to be achieved that prevents short circuits or the breaking of contacts at the level of the connection areas on the chip.

The main drawback of the aforementioned placement and connection processes is their lack of precision, especially when the dimensions of the chip forming the electronic assembly are notably reduced, for example 0.2 mm by 0.2 mm. Furthermore, the very small distance, of approximately 0.05 mm, that separates the track segments attached to the contacts of the chip, requires a high level of precision in terms of positioning and connection.

In the three first examples, only a chip or a microcircuit is placed on the substrate either with the contacts pressed on the tracks printed on one face of the substrate (flip-chip), or with the visible contacts connected subsequently. These two types of processes become rather unreliable when the size of the chip and the contacts reduces.

In the penultimate example, the modules are manufactured separately and arranged on a strip before being placed on the substrate. This process is also relatively slow and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to ensure maximum precision both at the level of manufacturing an electronic assembly from a chip with small dimensions as well as at the level of the placement of this type of assembly on an insulating substrate. Another aim is to achieve a very low transponder production cost with a high manufacturing rate.

These aims are achieved by a process of forming one electronic assembly comprising a chip and at least one conductive track segment indented to be electrically connected to at least one corresponding contact on a face of the chip and placement of this electronic assembly on a substrate, the process comprising the steps of:

-   -   forming in a sheet or a strip of conductive material at least         one conductive track segment having a predetermined outline;     -   seizing and holding at least one conductive track segment         previously formed with a holding device;     -   building of the electronic assembly by placing the chip relative         to said at least one conductive track segment held by said         holding device so that a portion of said at least one conductive         track segment is positioned facing or applied against said at         least one corresponding contact of the chip;     -   placing the electronic assembly previously built at a         predetermined position relative to the substrate, the chip and         the conductive track segment being held by a placement device;     -   embedding or inserting by the placement device said electronic         assembly into the substrate.

The term substrate here refers to any type of insulating support whether it is a card, a label, an object or a part of the structure of the object (apparatus shell, identification badge, box, package lining, document, etc.) likely to be equipped with an electronic assembly according to the process above. It is to be noted that the step of forming in a sheet or a strip of conductive material at least one conductive track segment having a predetermined outline and the step of seizing and holding at least one conductive track segment previously formed with a holding device can be simultaneous, both steps defining one and the same step during which the conductive track segments are formed, seized and held by a specific tool arranged for implementing such a step.

According to a first embodiment, the track segment consists of a thin strip of any shape stamped from a sheet of conductive material with a stamping tool. It is then transferred onto the holding device that holds it, for example, by means of an air suction device. In general, the number of stamped track segments corresponds to the number of contacts of the chip. They are held by the holding device according to an arrangement depending on the positions of the contacts on the chip. Their shape and their individual dimensions are also determined by the configuration of the chip contacts as well as by the one of the conductive tracks of the substrate. It is to be noted that the holding device can be formed by a part of the stamping tool equipped with air suction means.

The track segments can also form a transponder antenna that works, for example in the domain of UHF frequencies (Ultra High Frequency). In one case, the end of the segment that is not connected to the chip remains free, that is to say without connection to other tracks on the substrate. According to another configuration, the segment forms a loop, with each end connected to the chip. Of course, the placing device can handle such a segment in the same way as a segment including only one end connected to the chip.

In this type of configuration, it is possible that the chip may include other contacts from which segments are connected to tracks or to contact surfaces arranged on the substrate.

The holding device whereon the track segments are fixed seizes a chip, also by means of suction according to one embodiment, the ends of the track segments being applied against the chip contacts. This assembly is then positioned and pressed on the foreseen place on the substrate and the free ends of the track segments connect to the terminals of a circuit present on the substrate (for example, an antenna).

The means for holding the track segment are preferably made up of an air suction device that creates a vacuum on one of the faces of the track segment. A similar device can be also provided to pick up a chip with one end of the track segment being applied against a contact of the chip. The assembly thus mounted is transported towards a predetermined location on the substrate where it will be implanted. The placement device also includes means for pressing the assembly into the substrate.

The steps of seizing and holding the conductive track segment and then building the electronic assembly by positioning a chip relative to the conductive track segment and the steps of placing, embedding or inserting the electronic assembly thus built may be performed either with separate holding device and placing device or with one and a same device.

In case of separate holding device and placement device, the electronic assembly built by the holding device is transferred to the placement device to be placed and embedded or inserted into the substrate.

According to a particular embodiment, the holding device may include two separate units sharing the function of holding the conductive track segment(s) and a chip. In a configuration example, the conductive track segment(s) is/are seized by a head after being cut from a sheet or a strip of conductive material and transferred to a support which holds the conductive track segment(s) in a predetermined position. The head and the support thus constitute the two parts of the holding device and both are e.g. equipped with air suction means. An electronic chip is then placed by said head or another head relatively to the track segment(s) held by the support so that each conductive track segment has a portion which is positioned facing or applied against a corresponding contact of the electronic chip The electronic assembly is built by the holding device including the head and the support and then either transferred by this holding device to a welding station where the conductive track segment(s) is/are connected to the corresponding contact(s) of the chip and then placed by a placement device at a position relative to the substrate or directly placed by a placement device at a position relative to the substrate. The support may be a work table or a tray provided with suction means to hold the conductive track segment(s) in place and the chip is supplied by the head also equipped with suction means for placing this chip at the suitable position relatively to the conductive track segment(s).

In a further embodiment the head places first the chip on the support which holds it in a predetermined position and then the conductive track segment(s) is/are seized and held by the head which positions it/them on the support so that a portion of each conductive track segment faces or applies against a corresponding contact of the electronic chip. The support comprises holding means to keep the conductive track segment(s) in this predetermined position. The electronic assembly thus built is then transferred by the holding device to a welding station where the conductive track segment(s) is/are connected to the corresponding contact(s) of the chip and then placed by a placement device at a given position relative to the substrate or directly placed by a placement device at this given position relative to the substrate. The placement device consists either of the previous used head (holding device) or of a distinct head which places, embeds or inserts the electronic assembly into the substrate.

The welding operation can thus be carried out during a specific step preceding the embedding or insertion of the electronic assembly into the substrate. This specific step comprises using a welding device separate from the holding device or this holding device equipped with welding means for welding the conductive track segment(s) onto the corresponding contact(s) of the electronic chip, the electronic assembly then being transferred onto the placement device for placement on the substrate.

In another embodiment the operation of welding the conductive track segment(s) onto the corresponding contact(s) of the chip can be carried out either with the placement device during embedding or inserting the electronic assembly into the substrate or with a separate welding device after embedding or inserting the electronic assembly into this substrate.

In the examples of the figures and detailed description below, the holding and placement device are the same and one device called placement device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood thanks to the detailed following description that refers to enclosed drawings, which are given as an non-limitative examples, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the stamping of the track segments from a strip of conductive material and a transparent schematic top view of the placement device holding a chip and the track segments.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section view of the electronic assembly consisting of the chip and the track segments.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a part of substrate where the assembly is placed and connected to printed tracks.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section view of the part of the substrate in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic bottom view of the head of the placement device holding the track segments and the chip.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment where the track segments are stamped from a conductive strip provided with insulating areas.

FIG. 7 shows a top view f of a part of the substrate where the track segments of the assembly provided with insulating areas cross and/or superimpose other tracks of the substrate.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of a part of the substrate where the track segments of the assembly are longer and provided with insulating areas. They are adhered onto the substrate and cross the tracks.

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged section view of a part of the substrate where the chip-segments assembly is embedded in the substrate.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged section view of a part of substrate including a cavity with dimensions larger than those of the chip, the chip-segments assembly is held in the cavity thanks to an adhesive that fills the free spaces.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged section view of a part of a substrate including a cavity with a depth lower than the height of the chip. The substrate material fills the free spaces during the embedding of the chip-segments assembly into the cavity.

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged section view of a part of the substrate formed by two superimposed layers, the upper layer includes a window with dimensions approximately equal to those of the chip, the chip-segments assembly being embedded in the window.

FIG. 13 shows an enlarged section view of a part of the substrate formed by two superimposed layers, the upper layer includes a window with larger dimensions than those of the chip, the chip-segments assembly is held in the cavity thanks to an adhesive that fills the free spaces.

FIG. 14 shows an enlarged section view of a part of a substrate formed by two superimposed layers, the upper layer having a thickness lower than the height of the chip includes a window. The material of the lower layer of the substrate fills the free spaces during the embedding of the chip-segments assembly into the window.

FIG. 15 shows an enlarged section view of a part of the substrate formed by two superimposed layers, the lower layer includes a window. The chip-segments assembly is embedded into the upper layer facing the window of the lower layer.

FIG. 16 shows the section view in FIG. 15 with the chip-segments assembly embedded in the upper layer and the material of said layer fills the window of the lower layer.

FIG. 17 shows a part of the substrate comprising a chip-segments assembly with segments crossing the conductive tracks by passing over insulating segments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the process of the invention, each electronic assembly is mounted before its placement and connection with other elements present on the substrate. The track segments (3, 3′), which number usually corresponds to the number of contacts (5, 5′) of the chip (4), are cut from a sheet (2) of conductive material and are then assembled on these contacts (5, 5′).

FIG. 1 shows an example of a pair of rectangular track segments (3, 3′) arranged in a staggered way stamped in a sheet (2) or a copper strip originating from a roll, for example. The stamping tool (1) operates here from bottom to top and pushes the cut segments (3, 3′) towards its upper surface in such a way as to be transferred easily onto the placement device (6). The latter is placed above the stamping tool (1) and sucks the segments (3, 3′) up by holding them in the same position than during stamping. An electronic chip (4) is then seized by the placement device (6) that carries the segments (3, 3′) in such a way that its contacts (5, 5′) touch the nearest ends of each segment (3, 3′) in a central area of the head of the placement device (6). The chip (4) is also held on the device by suction in a similar way to track segments (3, 3′).

The assembly thus formed held by the placement device (6) is then positioned and subsequently hot pressed, for example, into a substrate (7) by the same device. The contact surface of the assembly that is directed upwards is level with the surface of the substrate (7) as shown in the section view of FIG. 4 and the track segments (3, 3′) are placed flat against the surface of the substrate (7).

The free ends of the segments (3, 3′) are connected by exerting pressure on the appropriate terminals which are formed with conductive tracks (8, 8′) arranged on the substrate (7), see FIG. 3.

In a final step of the assembly, an insulating protection sheet (9) is laminated, according to a known technique, on all or part of the surface of the substrate (7) ensuring the final mechanical holding of the electronic assembly made up of the track segments (3, 3′) and the chip (4), the electric connections having been made previously.

This placement process is applied advantageously, for example, during the manufacturing of transponders or of contactless chip cards where the electronic assembly is connected, for example, to the ends of an antenna.

FIG. 2 shows the section view of an assembly consisting of a chip (4) comprising two contacts (5, 5′) each provided with a bump. The connection of the track segments (3, 3′) is carried out by exerting pressure in such a way that the bumps achieve the electric contact with the conductive material of the segment. The bumps can also be made of a conductive material that is fusible at a relatively low temperature (tin based alloy, for example) so that the placement device carries out the connection of the track segments with heat supply.

When the melting point of the bumps material is higher, such as for example in the case of gold, an optimal electric contact is ensured by supplementary weld spots, for example by laser, ultrasound or also by thermo-compression. These welding operations can be carried out either with the placement device during or after the embedding of the electronic assembly in the substrate (7) or during a supplementary step after the placement of the electronic assembly. Another possibility consists in using a welding device separate from the placement device in order to weld, during a previous step, the conductive segment(s) (3, 3′) with the contacts (5, 5′) of the chip (4) at a high temperature. The chip-segments assembly is then transferred onto the placement device that places said assembly on the substrate (7) for embedding it at a lower temperature adapted to the softening of the substrate, for example. Due to the high temperature of the welding device, this placement operation becomes difficult to carry out with only one device executing both the welding and the placement without damaging the substrate.

According to an embodiment, the connection of the track segments (3, 3′) on the contacts (5, 5′) of the chip (4) can be carried out through the application of a conductive adhesive on these contacts (5, 5′) before the placement device (6 seizes the chip (4). Another possibility consists in applying the conductive adhesive to the end of the segments (3, 3′) facing the contacts (5, 5′) of the chip (4). This operation is carried out during a step prior to the transfer of the segment (3, 3′) onto the placement device (6) before or after its stamping. The adhesive can also be applied previously in an inactive form on the conductive sheet and then subsequently activated. The adhesion of the contacts (5, 5′) of the chip (4) with the track segments (3, 3′) is thus carried out during the seizing of the chip (4) by the placement device (6) then during or after the embedding step of the chip-segments assembly into the substrate (7).

FIG. 5 represents a schematic bottom view of the head of the placement device (6) according to the invention provided with openings (10, 10′, 11) intended to hold, by means of air suction (vacuum), the different elements of the electronic assembly. In a first step, the air suction through the openings (10, 10′) allows the reception of the track segments (3, 3′) on the stamping tool (1) and holds them and in position. In a second step, the chip (4) is seized from a suitable support also by means of air suction through a central orifice (11). The electronic assembly built in this way and held by the placement device is finally transported towards the location provided on the substrate (7) and pressed into the material. The head of the placement device (6) can be made up of either several pieces assembled together or of only one block providing a global support to the stamping tool, to the suction system of the segments and the chip, to the welding means etc. according to one example of configuration.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment wherein the conductive strip (2) on which the track segments (3, 3′) are stamped is provided with insulating areas (12, 12′) applied against the lower face of the strip. These areas (12, 12′) are arranged in order to form a central insulated part (13, 13′), on the face that will be applied against the substrate, of each segment stamped from this strip (2). The ends of the segments (3, 3′) are released from the insulating area in order to ensure the connections with the chip (4) and the conductive tracks or areas of the substrate (7) provided for that purpose. This isolation prevents short-circuits with the tracks (8, 8′) of the substrate (7) that the segments cross in certain configurations, as shown in FIG. 7.

According to one embodiment, the insulating areas on the segments can be carried out from insulating segments obtained in a similar way to the conductive segments, but from an insulating film. These segments are transferred onto the placement device on which they are held against the appropriate track segments before the placement and embedding of the assembly in the substrate. This alternative allows the production of insulating segments of any shape and namely wider than the conductive segments in order to ensure improved isolation of a track crossing, for example (see the example in FIG. 17)

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and in case the segments (3, 3′) are longer, the insulating film of the conductive strip (2) can comprise an adhesive layer. The adhesive, once activated, ensures the holding of the segment on the substrate when it crosses several tracks, for example. The adhesive layer can also be arranged on the substrate (7) instead of being applied on the insulating film.

During the placement of the assembly, the segments (3, 3′) are adhered onto the substrate (7), for example, thanks to the activation by localized heating of the adhesive layer by the placement device (6) at points (14, 14′) facing the insulating area. These points (14, 14′) are preferably situated outside the tracks of the substrate (7) thus allowing improved adhesion.

According to one embodiment, the same device carries out the stamping operations of the segments (3, 3′) of conductive tracks and the placement of the assembly. In this case, the head of the device is completed with a stamp for cutting out the track segments (3, 3′). A withdrawal of the stamp allows the suction openings (10, 10′) to hold the segments (3, 3′) in a suitable position before the seizing of the chip (4). The transfer step of the track segments (3, 3′) from the stamping tool towards the placement device is therefore eliminated.

According to another embodiment, the means for seizing and holding the chip comprise adhesive elements that replace the opening(s) (11) in the central area of the placement device (6). The chip (4) is therefore adhered temporarily between its contacts (5, 5′) during the transport of the electronic assembly towards its location on the substrate (7). The adhesive elements have a weaker adhesive force than that of the fixing of the chip (4) on the substrate (7) in order to allow the withdrawal of the placement device (6) after the embedding of the electronic assembly. The adhesive can remain on the chip (4) after having been placed with the aim of improving the flatness of the surface of the electronic assembly in case the chip (4) includes contacts (5, 5′) with bumps.

It should be noted that adhesive elements conductive according to a vertical axis (axis Z) can also be added onto the placement device (6) facing the contacts of the chip (4). These elements can either replace the adhesive elements or the suction opening(s) (vacuum) of the central area, or complete them.

According to a further embodiment, the head of the placement device (6) can include means for welding the track segments (3, 3′) onto the contacts of the chip (4). These welding means consist of, for example, a laser or ultrasonic source or one or several heat elements. In general, they are activated before or during the placement or during or after the embedding of the electronic assembly in the substrate (7) in order to exert the necessary pressure on the elements to be welded.

The process according to the invention also applies to the manufacturing of smart cards or transponders comprising substrate that is not thermo-fusible, namely a substrate that will not melt or soften when the temperature is raised. The substrate can be made up of a material based on cellulose such as paper or cardboard. In this case, it is preferable to create a cavity in which the chip will be placed provided with its track segments. The cavity can be executed by milling or embedding of a die after the previous softening of the substrate with solvents with or without elevation of the temperature. The electronic assembly can also be cold or hot pressed directly into the material that is locally deformed or in an area made malleable in order to absorb the volume of the chip. The aim of the process, as in the case of thermo-fusible substrates, is to preserve precise positioning without clearance, which means without possibility of movement of the assembly inside the cavity. Of course, such a cavity for cavity the chip can also be formed in a thermo-fusible substrate whereon localized heating can facilitate the embedding and the holding of the chip in the cavity.

Tests with certain non thermo-fusible substrates have shown that a direct embedding process using hot pressing of the assembly can cause the combustion of the material of the substrate at the position of the chip, creating thus the cavity. In this case, the previous formation of the cavity is no longer necessary.

Several embodiments of the process disclosed in FIGS. 9 to 14 can be presented according to the material or the structure of the substrate or according to the equipment available, namely:

-   -   FIG. 9 shows the simplest embodiment in which the chip-segments         assembly is directly embedded in the material of the substrate         (7) either hot or cold with providing solvents. In certain         cases, in order to facilitate the placement of the assembly, a         cavity (15) is formed in the substrate (7) with dimensions that         are slightly smaller or equal to those of the chip (4). The         depth of the cavity (15) corresponds approximately to the         thickness of the chip (4) so that the face including the         segments (3, 3′) is level with the surface of the substrate (7).         This cavity (15) is preferably created during a step prior to         the placement of the chip-segments assembly with the placement         device (6). The latter embeds or inserts the assembly into the         cavity (15) in which it is held thanks to the similarity of the         dimensions of the cavity (15) and the chip (4). In order to         reduce the embedding pressure, it is also possible to soften         locally the periphery of the cavity (15) with appropriate         solvents.     -   FIG. 10 shows the case in which the dimensions of the cavity         (15) are larger than those of the chip (4) with a depth         corresponding approximately to the thickness of the chip (4). In         this case a substance, preferably adhesive (16), such as for         example, a thermo-fusible, thermo-hardening, or ultra-violet         light photo-hardening resin or any other suitable adhesive, is         applied into the cavity (15). The placement device (6) then         embeds the chip (4) in the adhesive substance (16) that is         distributed and discharged into the free space left along the         outline of the chip (4). This filling allows the holding of the         chip-segments assembly in a stable position after the hardening         of the adhesive substance (16).     -   FIG. 11 shows the case wherein the depth of the cavity (15) is         lower than the thickness of the chip (4) and with dimensions         that are larger than those of the chip (4). The placement device         (6) embeds the chip so that the face of the chip (4) including         the segments (3, 3′) is level with the surface of the substrate         (7). In order to ensure leveling without excessive deformation         of the substrate (7), the latter can be softened (solvents or         heating) at the level of the cavity (15) also allowing the         discharge (17) of the material of the substrate (7) in the free         space surrounding the chip (4). This space filled in this way         holds the position of the chip-segments assembly in the cavity         (15).     -   This embodiment of the process can be combined with the previous         one by adding an adhesive substance (16) in the cavity disclosed         in FIG. 11 in order to complete the filling of the space         according to the dimensions of this cavity (15) compared to         those of the chip (4).

FIGS. 12 to 14 show one embodiment in which the substrate (7) is formed by two superimposed layers (7′, 7″) placed one on top of the other. The upper layer (7′) includes a window (18), namely a perforation through the entire thickness of this layer (7′). In general, the window (18) is carried out by stamping the upper layer (7′) of the substrate before the placement of the lower layer (7″). The lower face of the window (18) is closed with the lower layer (7″) of the substrate (7) in order to form a cavity holding the chip (4) in an accurate position. The laminating of both layers of the substrate is carried out during a subsequent step after the placement of the electronic assembly in the cavity.

-   -   FIG. 12 shows the embodiment wherein the dimensions of the         window (18) are smaller or equal to those of the chip (4) and         the thickness of this layer (7′) is equivalent to that of the         chip (4). As in the embodiment in FIG. 9, the chip (4) is         embedded in the window (18) and is held directly by the walls of         the window (18). The face of the chip (4) including the segments         (3, 3′) is level with the surface of the upper layer (7′) of the         substrate (7).     -   FIG. 13 shows the embodiment wherein the dimensions of the         window (18) are larger than those of the chip (4) and the         thickness of the upper layer (7′) corresponds approximately to         that of the chip (4). As in the embodiment in FIG. 10, an         adhesive substance (16) is applied in the cavity formed by the         window (18) in order to fill the space surrounding the chip (4)         when the latter is placed in window (18) and embedded in         adhesive substance (16).

The embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein the thickness of the substrate including the window is similar to that of the chip, can also be presented without the lower substrate. The chip is held either by the edges of the window or by an adhesive substance that fills the space between the edges of the window and the chip. Supplementary protection layers can also be added to the substrate during further steps in order to cover one or both faces of the window.

-   -   FIG. 14 shows the embodiment wherein the thickness of the upper         layer (7′) of the substrate is smaller than that of the chip (4)         with the dimensions of the window (18) being larger than those         of the chip (4). In this case, as in that of FIG. 11, the chip         (4) is embedded across the window (18) and then in the lower         layer (7″) of the substrate (7) that is softened in such a way         as to discharge the material (17) of this layer (7″) along the         outline of the chip (4). The space filled in this way around the         chip (4) allows the latter to be held in the window (18).     -   Similarly to the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11, the embodiments         of FIGS. 13 and 14 can be combined. An adhesive substance (16)         can be added in the cavity shown in FIG. 14 in order to complete         the filling of the free space around the chip (4) according to         the dimensions of the latter compared to those of the window         (18).     -   FIGS. 15 and 16 show embodiments with a substrate (7) in two         layers where the window (18) is cut into the lower layer (7″) of         the substrate (7). The assembly of chip (4) segments (3, 3′) is         embedded in the upper layer (7′) facing to the window (18) of         the lower layer (7″) with the placement device (6). The pressure         exerted by the placement device (6) allows the softened material         of the upper layer (7′) to be discharged into the window (18) as         shown in FIG. 16. The segments (3, 3′) are level with the         surface of the upper layer (7′) as in the embodiments in FIGS. 9         to 14.

The dimensions of the window (18) and the thickness of the layers (7′, 7″) of the substrate (7) are also determined by the volume of material necessary to fill the window without allowing the appearance, on the surface of the substrate (7), of a depression or a bump which could harm the application of the assembly of chip (4) segments (3, 3′) integrated into the substrate (7).

FIG. 17 shows an example of an embodiment carried out according to the process of this invention. The part of the substrate (7) includes a chip (4) provided with contacts (5, 5) each connected to one end of a conductive segment (3, 3′). The other end of each conductive segment (3, 3′) is connected to conductive tracks (21, 21′) arranged on the substrate (7). The first segment (3′) originating from the chip crosses a set of conductive tracks (21) passing over a first insulating segment (20′). The second conductive segment (3) of the chip (4) is connected on one end of a track (21′). This track (21′) is connected to a third conductive segment (3″) leading to a distant track (21″) passing over a second insulating segment (20) covering a set of tracks (21).

The placement process of these different elements (conductive, insulating segments and chip) is summarized as follows:

-   -   stamping of the three conductive segments (3, 3′, 3″) and         seizing by the placement device (6),     -   stamping of two insulating segments (20, 20′) and seizing by the         placement device (6),     -   seizing of the chip (4) so that its contacts (5, 5′) face the         ends of the conductive segments (3, 3′) previously seized and to         which ends they will be connected during the step of embedding         into the substrate (7).     -   placement in a predetermined position on the substrate (7) and         embedding of all the seized elements in such a way that the face         of the chip including the contacts as well as the conductive and         insulating segments are level with the surface of the substrate. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process of forming one electronic assembly comprising a chip and at least one conductive track segment indented to be electrically connected to at least one corresponding contact on a face of the chip and placement of this electronic assembly on a substrate, the process comprising the steps of: forming in a sheet or a strip of conductive material at least one conductive track segment having a predetermined outline; seizing and holding at least one conductive track segment previously formed with a holding device; building of the electronic assembly by placing the chip relative to said at least one conductive track segment held by said holding device so that a portion of said at least one conductive track segment is positioned facing or applied against said at least one corresponding contact of the chip; placing the electronic assembly previously built at a predetermined position relative to the substrate, the chip and the conductive track segment being held by a placement device; embedding or inserting by the placement device said electronic assembly into the substrate.
 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the embedding of the chip and of said at least one conductive track segment into the substrate ensures the electric connection between said at least one conductive track segment and said at least one corresponding contact of the chip.
 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein an operation of welding said at least one conductive track segment onto said at least one corresponding contact of the chip is carried out either during or after the embedding or insertion of the electronic assembly into the substrate, or during a supplementary step preceding the embedding or insertion of the electronic assembly into the substrate.
 4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the supplementary step comprises using a welding device, separate from the holding device or the placement device, for welding said at least one conductive track segment onto said at least one corresponding contact of the chip while these elements are held by said holding device, the electronic assembly then being transferred onto the placement device for placement on the substrate.
 5. A process according to claim 3 wherein the supplementary step comprises using a welding device included in the holding device for welding said at least one conductive track segment onto said at least one corresponding contact of the chip, the electronic assembly then being transferred onto the placement device for placement on the substrate.
 6. A process according to claim 1 including a step for applying conductive adhesive on said at least one contact of the chip prior to the building of said electronic assembly.
 7. A process according to claim 1 including a step for applying conductive adhesive on at least an end of each conductive track segment prior to the transfer of said conductive track segment onto the holding device.
 8. A process according to claim 1 wherein said at least one conductive track segment is obtained by cutting out a sheet or a strip of conductive material.
 9. A process according to claim 1 wherein an insulating segment is obtained from an insulating film and then transferred onto the holding device that holds it against a corresponding conductive track segment, said insulating segment forming an insulating area on a central part of this conductive track segment.
 10. A process according to claim 1 wherein said holding device and said placement device form a same device.
 11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electronic assembly is placed in such a way that the surface of the chip provided with said at least one contact is level with the surface of the substrate, and wherein said at least one conductive track segment is applied against the surface of the substrate.
 12. A process according to claim 8 wherein the sheet or strip of conductive material includes an insulating film applied against one of its two faces.
 13. A process according to claim 12 wherein at least one conductive track segment is obtained from said sheet or strip in order to be provided with an insulating area on the central part of its lower face intended to be applied against said substrate in order to prevent at least one short-circuit with at least one conductive track of this substrate that this at least one conductive track segment crosses, the ends of this at least one conductive track segment being released from the insulating area.
 14. A process according to claim 12 wherein the insulating film is coated with adhesive.
 15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the placement device, during the placement of the electronic assembly on the substrate, heats said at least one conductive track segment at points positioned facing the insulating area leading to the activation of the adhesive and the holding of the conductive track segment on the substrate.
 16. A process according to claim 1 including a preliminary step of forming, into the substrate, of a cavity for fitting the chip of the electronic assembly.
 17. A process according to claim 16 including a step of softening the substrate at the level of said cavity prior to the insertion of the chip into the cavity so that the face of said chip carrying said at least one conductive track segment is level with the surface of the substrate, the dimensions of the cavity being equivalent to those of the chip and the depth of said cavity corresponding approximately to the thickness of the chip.
 18. Process according to claim 16 wherein the dimensions of the cavity are larger than those of the chip and the depth of said cavity corresponds approximately to the thickness of the chip, including a step of applying an adhesive substance into the cavity prior to the embedding of the chip into said adhesive substance so that the free space surrounding the chip placed in the cavity is filled by the discharging of said adhesive substance and that the face of said chip carrying the segments is level with the surface of the substrate.
 19. Process according to claim 16 wherein the dimensions of the cavity are larger than those of the chip and the depth of said cavity is smaller than the thickness of the chip, including a step of softening the substrate near said cavity before and/or during the insertion of the chip into the cavity so that the face of said chip carrying said at least one conductive track segment is level with the surface of the substrate, the space surrounding the chip placed in the cavity being filled by the discharging of the material of the substrate.
 20. Process according to claim 19 wherein an adhesive substance is applied into the cavity before the insertion of the chip so that said adhesive substance completes the filling of the space surrounding the chip placed in the cavity.
 21. Process according to claim 1 including a preliminary step for building said substrate by the superimposing of at least two layers one on top of the other, and formation of a window in the upper layer, wherein the lower layer closes the lower part of the window, said window defining a cavity intended for receiving the chip of the electronic assembly.
 22. Process according to claim 21 wherein the dimensions of the window are equivalent to those of the chip and the thickness of the upper layer of the substrate corresponds approximately to the thickness of the chip, including a step of softening the substrate at the level of said window before and/or during insertion of the chip into the window so that the face of said chip carrying the segments is level on the surface of the substrate.
 23. Process according to claim 21 wherein the dimensions of the window are larger than those of the chip and the thickness of the upper layer of the substrate corresponds approximately to the thickness of the chip, including a step of application of an adhesive substance into the cavity formed by the window prior to the embedding of the chip into said adhesive substance so that the free space surrounding the chip placed in the window is filled by the discharging of said substance and that the face of said chip carrying the segments is level with the surface of the substrate.
 24. Process according to claim 21 wherein the dimensions of the window are larger than those of the chip and the thickness of the upper layer of the substrate is smaller than the thickness of the chip, including a step of softening the substrate near said window before and/or during the insertion of the chip into the cavity formed by the window so that the face of said chip carrying the segments is level with the surface of the substrate, the space surrounding the chip placed in window being filled by the discharging of the material of the lower layer of the substrate.
 25. Process according to claim 24 wherein an adhesive substance is applied into the cavity formed by the window prior to the insertion of the chip so that said substance completes the filling of the space surrounding the chip placed in said cavity.
 26. Process according to claim 1 including a preliminary step of building said substrate by the superimposing of at least two layers, one on top of the other, and the formation of a window in the lower layer, wherein the upper layer closes the window, the electronic assembly being embedded in the upper layer facing the window of the lower layer with the placement device, the pressure exerted by said placement device discharging the softened material of the upper layer into the window, said at least one conductive track segment and the chip of the electronic assembly being level with the surface of the upper layer. 